OPT Director Of Innovation Jobs
Director of Innovation roles on OPT are available across tech, healthcare, and enterprise consulting sectors. Most positions require STEM OPT eligibility or a humanities extension, and employers typically sponsor H-1B visa after your OPT period. Leadership experience and a relevant graduate degree strengthen your profile significantly.
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The Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation (OCSI) is seeking a collaborative, organized, and forward-thinking Sustainability Fellow for a two-year appointment. This role bridges technical climate action with operational innovation and is divided into three core pillars: leading the development of our Scope 3 emissions program, collaborating on project management and operational workflows, and executing a flexible project portfolio tailored to the fellow's unique strengths.
This is a two-year term position, and comes with employment benefits of the University of Michigan. This position is hybrid with expectations of working on campus 2-3 days/week, with flexibility.
Responsibilities
Scope 3 Emissions Program Development (50%)
- Goal Implementation: Support the strategic rollout and execution of the University of Michigan's Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals (e.g., business travel, food, capital projects, purchased goods, and culture change).
- Data Development & Reporting: Support analysts and partners in the collection, analysis, and quality control of complex Scope 3 data sets. Coordinate with internal departments (Procurement, food providers, AEC, etc.) and external vendors to refine emissions factors and improve data maturity.
- Community Engagement: Oversee the development of an engagement plan to educate and involve the U-M community in reducing Scope 3 emissions. Support engagement activities, such as conducting workshops, presentations, and tabling.
- Point of Contact: Serve as the primary point of contact for all Scope 3 inquiries and as the liaison for external communities of practice and reporting frameworks.
PM Support & Workflow Optimization (40%)
- Collaborative Project Management: Work alongside OCSI project managers to support general project management needs (such as agenda development, note-taking, action item tracking, and stakeholder engagement) and ensure cross-functional campus sustainability initiatives are delivered effectively.
- Workflow Optimization: Partner with the PM team to evaluate current OCSI operational processes and design efficient, scalable workflows to improve team collaboration, tracking, and reporting.
- AI Integration: Identify, test, and implement ethical AI tools and automation strategies (e.g., data analysis, drafting communications, project dashboards) to maximize office productivity and streamline PM workflows.
Special & Emerging Projects (10%)
- Interest-Driven Initiatives: Scope and execute self-directed or emerging projects based on the fellow's specific skills, professional growth goals, and institutional sustainability needs.
- Incubation: Act as a flexible resource for OCSI to pilot creative solutions or explore new sustainability ideas as they arise over the 2-year term.
Required Qualifications
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and translate complex data for diverse audiences.
- Recent graduate: 2025 or later.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental, sustainability, data science, business, engineering, or a related field.
- Strong understanding of Scope 3 emissions, including GHG accounting principles and reduction approaches.
- Community engagement skills and awareness of behavior change best practices.
- Familiarity with project management methodologies.
- Tech-savvy with a demonstrated curiosity or experience in utilizing AI and project management tools to improve productivity.
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess a blend of analytical fluency, stakeholder engagement skills, and a knack for building innovative, durable solutions to amplify organizational impacts.
- A methodical collaborator: You thrive in cross-functional environments, bringing structure and organization to complex team projects.
- A versatile communicator: You can seamlessly pivot from an analytical deep-dive with technical teams to a strategic alignment meeting with executives.
- A pragmatic technologist: You look for smart, automated solutions to streamline work, ensuring new tools genuinely empower the team rather than complicating their day-to-day work.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
281300
Working Title
Campus Sustainability and Innovation Early Career Associate: Scope 3 Emissions and Project Management
Job Title
Admin Coord/Project Coord
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Hybrid
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Nonexempt
Organizational Group
Fo Sustainability
Department
AVP Sustainability
Posting Begin/End Date
8/07/2026 - 8/28/2026
Salary
$50,000.00 - $52,000.00
Career Interest
Administration
Job Summary
The Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation (OCSI) is seeking a collaborative, organized, and forward-thinking Sustainability Fellow for a two-year appointment. This role bridges technical climate action with operational innovation and is divided into three core pillars: leading the development of our Scope 3 emissions program, collaborating on project management and operational workflows, and executing a flexible project portfolio tailored to the fellow's unique strengths.
This is a two-year term position, and comes with employment benefits of the University of Michigan. This position is hybrid with expectations of working on campus 2-3 days/week, with flexibility.
Responsibilities
Scope 3 Emissions Program Development (50%)
- Goal Implementation: Support the strategic rollout and execution of the University of Michigan's Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals (e.g., business travel, food, capital projects, purchased goods, and culture change).
- Data Development & Reporting: Support analysts and partners in the collection, analysis, and quality control of complex Scope 3 data sets. Coordinate with internal departments (Procurement, food providers, AEC, etc.) and external vendors to refine emissions factors and improve data maturity.
- Community Engagement: Oversee the development of an engagement plan to educate and involve the U-M community in reducing Scope 3 emissions. Support engagement activities, such as conducting workshops, presentations, and tabling.
- Point of Contact: Serve as the primary point of contact for all Scope 3 inquiries and as the liaison for external communities of practice and reporting frameworks.
PM Support & Workflow Optimization (40%)
- Collaborative Project Management: Work alongside OCSI project managers to support general project management needs (such as agenda development, note-taking, action item tracking, and stakeholder engagement) and ensure cross-functional campus sustainability initiatives are delivered effectively.
- Workflow Optimization: Partner with the PM team to evaluate current OCSI operational processes and design efficient, scalable workflows to improve team collaboration, tracking, and reporting.
- AI Integration: Identify, test, and implement ethical AI tools and automation strategies (e.g., data analysis, drafting communications, project dashboards) to maximize office productivity and streamline PM workflows.
Special & Emerging Projects (10%)
- Interest-Driven Initiatives: Scope and execute self-directed or emerging projects based on the fellow's specific skills, professional growth goals, and institutional sustainability needs.
- Incubation: Act as a flexible resource for OCSI to pilot creative solutions or explore new sustainability ideas as they arise over the 2-year term.
Required Qualifications
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and translate complex data for diverse audiences.
- Recent graduate: 2025 or later.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental, sustainability, data science, business, engineering, or a related field.
- Strong understanding of Scope 3 emissions, including GHG accounting principles and reduction approaches.
- Community engagement skills and awareness of behavior change best practices.
- Familiarity with project management methodologies.
- Tech-savvy with a demonstrated curiosity or experience in utilizing AI and project management tools to improve productivity.
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess a blend of analytical fluency, stakeholder engagement skills, and a knack for building innovative, durable solutions to amplify organizational impacts.
- A methodical collaborator: You thrive in cross-functional environments, bringing structure and organization to complex team projects.
- A versatile communicator: You can seamlessly pivot from an analytical deep-dive with technical teams to a strategic alignment meeting with executives.
- A pragmatic technologist: You look for smart, automated solutions to streamline work, ensuring new tools genuinely empower the team rather than complicating their day-to-day work.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Job Opening ID
281300
Working Title
Campus Sustainability and Innovation Early Career Associate: Scope 3 Emissions and Project Management
Job Title
Admin Coord/Project Coord
Work Location
Ann Arbor Campus
Ann Arbor, MI
Modes of Work
Hybrid
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
FLSA Status
Nonexempt
Organizational Group
Fo Sustainability
Department
AVP Sustainability
Posting Begin/End Date
8/07/2026 - 8/28/2026
Salary
$50,000.00 - $52,000.00
Career Interest
Administration
See all 98+ OPT Director Of Innovation Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Director Of Innovation
Target companies with dedicated innovation functions
Large enterprises in technology, financial services, and healthcare are most likely to have standalone innovation teams. These organizations have established HR processes for OPT and H-1B sponsorship, making them far more receptive to international candidates than smaller firms.
Align your degree field to the role explicitly
Director of Innovation roles often fall under specialty occupation requirements. Make your application letter and resume explicit about how your degree in engineering, business, or a related field directly qualifies you for the innovation strategy work the employer describes.
Quantify your innovation impact with measurable outcomes
Employers sponsoring senior-level OPT candidates need to justify the hiring decision internally. Concrete metrics, such as revenue generated, products launched, or cost reductions driven by initiatives you led, make the business case for sponsorship far stronger than general leadership claims.
Engage directly with the hiring manager, not just HR
For director-level roles, decisions often rest with executives rather than recruiters. Connecting directly with the chief innovation officer or equivalent before applying signals strategic intent and gives you an opportunity to address OPT authorization before it becomes a screening concern.
Time your applications around your OPT start date carefully
Many companies avoid hiring candidates whose OPT authorization is less than 12 months from starting. Apply early enough that you can start within the first few months of your OPT period, giving employers a comfortable runway before your H-1B eligibility window opens.
Emphasize cross-functional leadership and ambiguity tolerance
Innovation directors routinely operate across product, engineering, and business strategy without formal authority. Highlighting experience leading cross-functional initiatives demonstrates the soft skills employers prioritize at this level, which can outweigh visa-related hesitations for the right candidate.
Director Of Innovation OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as a Director of Innovation?
Yes. F-1 students with approved OPT authorization can work in Director of Innovation roles as long as the position is directly related to their field of study. The role typically qualifies under business, engineering, or technology degree fields. STEM OPT extension applicants get up to 36 months of total authorization if the employer meets E-Verify requirements.
Do Director of Innovation employers typically sponsor H-1B visas?
Larger organizations with established innovation functions, particularly in technology and healthcare, are among the more consistent H-1B sponsors at the director level. Sponsorship is not universal, so it is worth verifying a company's sponsorship history before investing heavily in an application. Migrate Mate filters Director of Innovation jobs by OPT and sponsorship eligibility so you can focus your search on employers who have sponsored before.
Does a Director of Innovation role qualify as a STEM OPT position?
It depends on your degree field. If you hold a STEM-designated degree in engineering, computer science, data science, or a related discipline, and the role involves technical innovation work, it may qualify for STEM OPT. Roles framed primarily around business strategy and organizational design under a business administration degree typically do not qualify for the STEM extension.
What happens to my OPT status if my Director of Innovation contract ends early?
If your employment ends before your OPT authorization expires, you enter a 60-day grace period during which you cannot work but must find new employment, change status, or depart the U.S. For director-level roles with project-based or contract structures, this risk is real. Maintaining open communication with your DSO throughout employment helps you respond quickly if your situation changes unexpectedly.
Is a Director of Innovation role considered a specialty occupation for OPT purposes?
OPT itself does not require a specialty occupation determination the way H-1B does. However, your authorized OPT work must relate directly to your degree program. When you later apply for H-1B sponsorship in this role, USCIS will evaluate whether Director of Innovation qualifies as a specialty occupation, which often depends on how the employer defines the position's educational requirements in the job description.